Improvement in repeating magazine fire-arms



J. C. SMITH.

'Magazine Fire-Arm.

Patented Jan. 1, 1856g lnveptor;

M a M N. PETERS, PHOT0-LITHOGRAPHER. wAsmNGTCv-*Iy No. l4.034.

Witnesses:

UNITED Y STATES PATENT GEErcE.

JOHN c. sM1TH,or cAMDEN, NEW JEHsEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN REPEATING MAGAZINE FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 14,034, dated January 1, 1856.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, J oHN C. SMITH, of the city of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Arms; and I do hereby decla-re that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the iigures and letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to that class of firearms in which a radiating or hinged breech is used; and consists in imparting to the said breech a lateralreciprocating movement by means of a series of levers, catches, and springs, in connection with a trigger, as hereinafter more fully described, in such a manner that by the operation of the said trigger the breech may be made to radiate free from the barrel and have its chamber exposed for receiving the cartridge, and by the same trigger be brought back so that its chamber coincides with the bore of the barrel. The hammer for striking the cap is arranged, in connection with the same trigger, its levers, and links, in such a manner that the same operation ot' the trigger which raises and locks the breech releases the hammer and causes the discharge ofthe load. Under the rear end of the barrel, and in a line with the center of radiation of the breech, and within a chamber formed.

for the purpose, I place a cylinder with h`ollowed iianges for receiving the magazine of cartridges. This cylinder is so arranged with springs, catches, and ratchets, in connection with the vibrating breech, that every complete vibration of the latter caused by the operation of the trigger and its connections carries round the cartridges contained in the chamber, so that when it is requisite to furnish the chamber of the breech with a new load one of the cartridges may be always opposite to an orice in the magazine which coincides with the chamber of the breech when the latter is turned down froml thebarrel. In order to push each successive cartridge home into the breech, I make use of a ramrod connected to a sliding rod, which passes through the abovementioned cylinder, and through the center of vibration oi the breech toward the stock, where it terminates in a projection within'reaeh of the operator.

i Near the projection, and to the same sliding rod, I attach a second rod, which is arranged to slide in a small cylinder secured to the gun in such a manner as to be central with the nipple on the breech when the latter is down. VThis small cylinder communicates with a reservoir of caps in such a manner that the caps drop one by one into the cylinder, and are pushed onto the nipple by the rod when required.

The whole is so arranged and constructed that, first, by a slight pull of the trigger the breech may be brought down from the barrel; second, by moving the sliding rod rapidly backward and forward the breech may be loaded and capped; and, third, by pulling the trigger back its entire distance the breech may be raised to the barrel, there locked, and the hammer brought down so as to explode the cartridge. Thus the operator, by three movements of his hand, may discharge one load, and by repeating these movements as many loads as there are in the magazine without removing the fire-arm from the shoulder. The tire-arm shown in thev drawings is calculated for seven cart-ridges, and this number can easily be discharged in one minute.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which the same letters of reference allude to similar parts throughout the several views, Figure l is a longitudinal section of sufficient of a riiie to showr my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a view of the side contrary to that l, showing the mode of admitting they cartridges to the magazine. Fig. 7 is a sectional plan on the line 9 10, Fig. l.

A is part of the Wooden stock of the riiie,

B, a portion of the barrel. These are connected together by the casing G, one end of which extends along the under side ot' the stock A, and is secured thereto by screws in the ordinary manner. In the other is formed the magazine b for receiving the cartridges, and this is secured to the barrel B. C is the vibrating breech, which has circular projections a and a', which turn easily in the casing G in such a manner that the breech (by appa'- ratus hereinafter described) may have the limited vibration shown in red lines, Fig. 5, imparted to it. The bore of the breech C, when in its elevated position, coincides with the bore of the barrel C', the end ofthe former being in close contact with that of the latter. l/Vhen the breech 'is down, however, as shown in red lines, Fig. 5, its bore coincides with au orifice, w, in the magazine b. (See Figs. 5 and 7.) The radial breech C is furnished with a screw-plug, c, on the inside of which is a projection, d, which is of the form of a tube, with part of its circumference cut away, as seen in dotted lines, Fig. 7. In a recess on the outside of the plug c is situated the nipple j', having its orifice or touch-hole communicating with the tubular projection d.

II is a plate secured to the stock A, as well as to the casing G, and is bent up at q toward the breech, and has a lip overhan gin g the nipple to protect the operator from any flying particles of the exploding cap.

The extreme end of the projecting bearing a of the vibrating breech G is square for the reception of the square eye of the leverI, (see Fig. 3,) and from the end of thelatter projects the pin` J, on the end of which the connection K is allowed to swivel. To the lower end of K is jointed the link L, having a projection, against which bears the point of the spring m, which is secured to the casing G, and has a tendency, through the lever I, to throw down the vibrating breech, as shown in red lines, Fig. 5, when not otherwise retained. The link L is jointed to the lever M, which turns loosely on the pin R in the casing G.

The lever M has a curved recess on the top for receiving a pin projecting from the lever w when the latter is brought down, as hereafter described. This lever YV is also allowed to turn loosely on the pin It, and has on the -opposite side a second projection, between which and the body of the lever the dog is allowed to move freely on a pin passing through both. .(See Fig. 2.)

The end of the lever w is connected, by means of the link I), to the trigger N, the fulcrum of which is on a pin, 2, passing through the casing G. To the trigger, and near its fulcrum, is jointed the bridle k, acted upon by the hooked end of the spring l, which is secured to the casing G, and has a tendency to keep the trigger and its attachments in the position shown in Fig. l.

S is the hammer, which is also allowed to vibrate on the pin R. The upper end of the hammer coincides with, the nipple f, and its -tiovn lll of the cap-reservoir l2.

reservoir is divided into two compartments,

lower end has a projection, to which is jointed the bridle t, acted upon by the hooked end of the spring 'Il in such a manner as to force the upper end of the hammer toward the nipple when not otherwise retained.

rIhe dog Q above alluded to bears by means of a spring with one of its points in a notch4 on the 'lower end of the hammer, the other end projecting in a contrary direction, for a purpose hereafter referred to.

Jointed to a pin on the inside of the casing projecting in contrary directions, the point of one spring catching into the teeth of the ratchetwheel c, cut on the end ofthe projecting bearing a of the vibrating breech C, and the point of the spring on the opposite side catching into the ratchet-teeth cut in the cross piece 6' of the casing G, which forms the termination of the, lnagazine. The cylinder W turns on the sliding rod V, the end of which is furnished with a cross bar, Y, and the latter with a rod, Z, which passes through the magazine, and is central with the orifice w of the same. To the opposite end of the crossbar is secured the plunger 7.

The sliding rod V passes directly through the center of the cylinder W, through the projections a and a of the vibrating breech, through the lever I and the upper portion of the plate H, and terminates with a projection, S, for the thumb of the operator. To this eX- treme end of the sliding rod is connected, by means of the cross-bar 9, the cap-plunger 10, which slides in the horizontal cylindrical por- 'Ihis capeach compartment being capable of holding four or more caps, as seen in Fig. 2.

In the cylindrical portion 1l is an orifice large enough to admit one cap at a time, and the reservoir is arranged to slide along the cylindrical portion, so that either of the said compartments may communicate with the oritice. A stop, 13, attached tothe side of the reservoir, lits into notches on the cylindrical portion, and retains the reservoir when slid to the position required.

The top of the reservoir has a lid, 14, on opening which the interior is exposed, allow. ing the compartments to be replenished with caps. a lid, h, for the purpose of admitting the cartridges X. y

A cover, g, is secured in such a manner to the vibrating breech U that on the latter being elevated its enlarged end covers the orifce w of the magazine.

The magazine b is also furnished with Operation: We will now suppose the operator to havejust discharged one ot the cartridges and is desirous of dischargin gin succession the six remaining in the magazine l). The lock and other apparatus of the fire-arm will be in the position shown in Fig. 1. The operator now gives the trigger a gentle pull, which, by means ot' thelink P, pulls down the lever w, and with it the dog Q the point of which, catching into the lnotch of the hammer S, withdraws the latter a slight distance only from the nipple f. This slight movement ofthe hammer, acting upon the lever et through the projection u, causes the said lever to be removed from contact with the lever I, which, through the action of the spring m on the link L, causes the said lever I to turn, and consequently throws down the vibrating breech C to the position shown in red lines, Fig. 5, when the bore of the barrel coincides with the orifice of the magazine.

The lire-arm is now in a proper position to be capped and loaded, and the operator, re-

moving his hand from the trigger to the projection 8 on the sliding rod V, draws the latter toward the stock, and with it the rod Z, plunger 7, a-nd cap-plunger 10. This causes Z to push from the magazine into the chamber of the breech through the orifice one ot' the cartridges X. Now, before this cartridge can be discharged it is necessary that the paper covering should be partially torn away, in order to expose the powder in the neighborhood of the touch-hole. This is caused bythe projecting tube d, a portion ot' which is cut away, as already remarked in reference to Fig. 7. This cutting away of a portion of the tubular projection causes a portion of the paper of the cartridge to be bent inward when the latter is pushed home into the chamber of the breech, and thereby prevents any portion of the paper of the cartridge from becoming detached and choking the touch-hole. The cartridge being now pushed home to its proper position within the breech, the operator slides the rod V back to its original position, and this movement causes the cap-rod l0 to push one ofthe caps (which had previously dropped from one of the compartments in the reservoir 12,) through the orifice above mentioned into the cylindrical portion 11, onto the nipple j'. The operator now pulls the trigger back to its entire extent. This again draws down the lever w, the projection on which, catching the lever M,- also draws down the latter,'and, through the connections L and K, acting on the lever I, elevates the radial breech until its bore coincides with that of the barrel. The instant it has arrived at this position, as seen in Fig. 2, one point of the dog Q touches the bottom of the casing Gr, and thereby releases the other point from the notch on the hammer S, allowing the latter, through the action of the spring T, to be projected against the cap on the nipple f, causing the discharge of the cartridge.

It should be understood that simultaneously with the explosion of the cap, or, more properly speaking, an instant before, the projection U on the hammer S has moved the horizontal lever 4 so that the projection on the latter comes in contact with lever I, thereby retaining the vibrating breech with its bore accurately central with that of the barrel during the explosion otl the cartridge. Now, the elevating of the vibrating breech by the last movement ot' the trigger gave, through the teeth on the ratchet-wheel e, acting on the end of the spring 5 on the cylinder W, oneseventh of a revolution to the latter, which, through the hollows on its anges, carriesl round the whole of the cart-ridges remaining -in the magazine a sufficient distance for the cartridge next to that already discharged to take its place, so as to coincide with the oritice ne of the magazine.

By means ofthe spring on the opposite side of the cylinder W catching with its point into the ratchet-teeth cut into the cross-bar 6 of the magazine, the cylinder is prevented from turning back on the return movement or dropping down of the vibrating breech C.

One ot' the cartridges havin g been discharged, the operator gives the trigger a slight pull, causing the vibrating breech to drop as before, operates the sliding rod V, which caps the nipple and inserts another cartridge into the chamber of the breech, again pulls back the trigger to its utmost extent, and so disch. rges the second cartridge. This is continued until the whole of the cartridges contained in the magazine are successively discharged.

It now remains to replenish the magazine. This I accomplish by opening the door h, through which I put one cartridge at a time. When one is inserted I draw back theA rod V and return it againa movement which causes the plunger 7 to drive the cartridge toward the magazine. I then pull the trigger slightly, as described above, so as to allow the vibrating breech to fall, and then, by the hand and without disturbing the trigger further, I again raise the breech until it reaches its most clevated position. This gives sufficient move ment to the cylinder IV to make room for a second cartridge; and this operation is repeated until the whole magazine is full, as before.

The magazine being now replenished, I open the lid and till the compartments of the reservoir 12 with the requisite number of caps, and, again closing the lid, the lire-arm is now ready for discharging a succession of cartridges, as before.

Having now described the construction and operation of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to lay claim or confine myself to the exact process herein described ot1 inserting the cartridges into the magazine, or to the-exact shape shown of the casing G, or to the number of cartridges or caps contained in their respective reservoirs, as these features may be altered to suit the size and nature of the fire-arm. Neither do I desire to claim the use of a laterally-radiating breech, as such is claimed in the patent of V. YV. Hubbel, July 1, 1844. Neither do I Wish to claim, exclusively, the combining of the hammer with the laterally-swinging chamber for the purpose of eiiecting the simultaneous opening of the chamber and cockin g of .the hammer; but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The trigger N, with its spring Z, link P, lever w, with its dog Q and projection o, the hammer S, with its notch for receiving the dog, its projection o, and spring T, the lever 4, link L, with its spring m, lever M, link K, and lever I, or the equivalents to the above, in combina-v tion with the Vibrating breech C, the whole being'constructed and arranged substantially in the manner herein setforth, for the purpose of imparting to the said breech the required lateral Vibrati n g movement,retaining the same when required, and operating the ham mer so as to discharge the load by simply operating the trigger only.

2. The magazine b, containing the cylinder W, with its hollowed an ges and sprin g-catches 5, in combination with the ratchet-teeth on the cross-piece 6 and the ratchet-Wheel e on the end of a vibrating breech, so that the movements of :the latter may cause the said cylinderto carry round in succession the cartridges ready for insertion'into the chamber of the breech.

3. The sliding rod V, with its rod Z and projection 8, for the purpose of allowing the operator a ready means of inserting the cartridges into the chamber.

4. The cap-reservoir 12,With the cylinder 1l, and its orifice for receiving the caps, in combination with the rod 10, arranged substantially as herein shown, for the purpose of readily placing the caps on the nipple of the breech.

JOHN U. SMlTH.

Witnesses:

HENRY HoWsoN, THEoDoRE BERGNER. 

